We have no political prisoners in Georgia

“We don’t have political prisoners in Georgia, and it’s really impossible to call someone in Georgia a political prisoner,” Justice Minister Rati Bregadze said.

Journalists turned to Rati Bregadze with a question: “Deputies of the European Parliament should discuss the issue of releasing Nika Gvaramia. Is it one of the important shortcomings of the current government that the MEPs themselves are able to make changes in relation to political prisoners?

According to Rati Bregadze, the decision is made by the judiciary and any interference is unacceptable.
“Individuals can always express distrust or express confidence in certain decisions, but the axiom is that the judiciary is independent and no one has the right to doubt its correctness. It doesn’t matter if it’s Nika Gvaramia or another person, when there is a verdict and he doesn’t like it, he can appeal against it. After the domestic possibilities are exhausted, there is the Strasbourg Court, which anyone can apply to. I have never given a political assessment to any judicial decision. For this, there are courts, both local and European.

In order to become a judge, you need a legal education, then go through rather long procedures – a European parliamentarian is a politician, and when a politician evaluates a court decision, he needs sufficient grounds for this. I respect my profession and I know very clearly that when someone talks about a court decision, a higher-level judge has the right to talk about it – to evaluate these decisions,” Bregadze said.